William Junior Lecerf was our first rider home Thursday afternoon.
Things were hectic from the very beginning on stage five of the Tour de Suisse, attacks coming in waves on the first climb of the day, Altanca, which averaged more than 8% over just five kilometers. Louis Vervaeke was among those who rode clear when the peloton split, booking a place in the front group, which at one point had two minutes on the chasers.
After the second ascent of the stage though, things calmed down, the race came back together in the valley and five riders formed a breakaway which managed to stay clear until the early slopes of Cari, the tough climb that returned at the race for the first time in eight years.
Riding just his second World Tour stage race of the season, William Junior Lecerf left a good impression there, concluding the stage won by Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) as the highest-ranked Soudal Quick-Step rider. This helped the young Belgian – runner-up this season at the AlUla Tour – make a jump of twelve places in the general classification with just three days left at the Swiss event.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
